I’ve been looking forward to photographing Matthew and Gina’s wedding FOREVER. Well, at least since December 2013, when I had the honor of photographing their amazing and beautiful surprise proposal. They really are the perfect couple–they’re sweet, polite, funny, and obviously madly in love. Pretty much a wedding photographer’s dream! Added bonus: they chose a gorgeous venue, Brookside Farms, for the ceremony and reception.

In case you missed that, this is Charlie. (Look for him in the ceremony later.)

The girls had way too much fun getting ready. 🙂

I think the guys did too, although they didn’t have the matching tank tops.

The Rev. Catherine Daniels (the “Ohio Wedding Lady”!) officiated the ceremony, which was absolutely gorgeous. They cried, I cried, I tried to hold my camera steady while I cried some more. Matthew and Gina are so adorable and so in love and they bring out the big sap in me. 🙂

So. Adorable!

So, yeah, gorgeous.

By the time the ceremony was over, the skies were getting pretty grey, but we trekked across the grounds of the farm to find some beautiful spots for photos. And yes, the rain held out until we were done with the outdoor photos.

The bride and groom and their families:

The girls:

The guys:

The whole beautiful wedding party:

And photos with the maid of honor and best man!

And then some photos of the lovely couple, who walked a really long way in the mud so we could get the perfect photos.

And then it was on to the reception in the gorgeous barn at Brookside. Love the lighting in there!

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It had started raining by the time we got to the sparkler exit, but was that going to stop this group? You can probably guess that answer.

I had to drag Gina and Matthew out in the rain for just a couple more photos. Such a beautiful day. Congratulations, Matthew and Gina! Wishing you a lifetime of love.

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One of the best things about newborn photography–kind of the hidden perk–is getting to hold those sweet new babies. So how lucky was I to get to photograph these sweet new twins?

Introducing Ellie and Cora…four weeks old in these photos, which were taken the day after their actual due date. They just couldn’t wait to get out in the world and start their modeling careers, I think.

So. Cute. Can’t even stand it.

So these girls…they just cuddled right up together in this little newborn nest and held each other’s hands. How awesome to have a best friend right from the first days of your life. 🙂

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If you’re an avid follower of this blog (and of course you are, you’re not a monster), you might remember this guy from the Christmas mini sessions last month:

Well, guess who’s the luckiest photographer? That’d be me, because I got to see handsome Mr. Declan again for his three-month photos in the studio. Let me tell you something: this kid has more style at three months than, well, I do.

And he’s ready to travel.

Seriously, if you loved Declan: The Awesome Hat at the Christmas sessions, check out the sequel, Declan: Sweater Onesie and Bow Tie.

Seriously. Cutest. Dude. Ever. Can you stand more? Check out this smile.

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It was such a pleasure to have the lovely W. family as one of the first photo sessions in my new home studio! They were sweet, funny, and super easy to photograph–there’s nothing better than getting a family of huggers in front of the camera so I don’t have to keep saying “move closer together!”

And seriously, how cute is this family?

These sisters were sweet, funny, and great sports about all the silly poses I asked them to do.

I got to try out a technique I learned in the Milky Way’s fabulous Illuminate course*, called “dream lighting”–and just look at these cuties!

What a great experience–I’m looking forward to getting to see this wonderful family again!

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Christmas mini sessions this year were SO much fun! They were held at Pioneer Trails Tree Farm (and thanks to Mary Jan Perdulla for the very generous use of this gorgeous land!), and on the first day of mini sessions we had a very special guest…Santa!

Santa was amazing (well, he’s Santa, so of course he was), and it was wonderful that every child got to spend some serious quality time with Santa. Thirty minutes per session gave us plenty of time to do family and individual child photos and still get plenty of one-on-one time with our guest of honor. 🙂

Here are some of the wonderful (and so photogenic!) families that came out for the first day of Christmas sessions. Am I seriously the luckiest girl to get to photograph these beautiful faces? 🙂

First up: how. freaking. cute. is this family?

Cutie pies!

Next up: the gorgeous Miss M. She rocked that dress, she kept her amazing smile while her nose was freezing, and she was generally all-around awesome.

Those little guys have style to burn. And those smiles! I’m seeing modeling careers in their futures. 🙂

I ended this day of mini sessions with one of my very favorite families (who may be quickly becoming the “face” of Dr. Z Photography). 🙂 Always wonderful to have them in front of the camera!

Seriously, just look. at. this. How sweet are they?

Of course, I can’t end this post without showing you how excited my own sweet little guy was to get to see Santa! He brought Santa a picture he drew (Santa in the sled with the reindeer) and he LOVED getting to hang out and talk to him. He told me later, “Now Santa will remember me every time he sees me!” (so I’m thinking probably no more mall Santas in our future!). So sweet and such a wonderful experience.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the first day of Christmas mini sessions this year–hope to see you all again soon!

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As part of my move toward providing a full-service, luxury photo experience, Dr. Z Photography is now providing a complimentary in-person “Reveal” viewing and ordering meeting with every photo session. You can go here to read more about this service and why it’s such an important part of making sure that every Dr. Z Photography client gets a personalized experience, including the opportunity to see and hold samples of various prints and products, ask questions about product options, and receive individualized advice to ensure that you get the prints and products that are perfect for your lifestyle and your budget.

As part of this experience, every Reveal session begins with a slideshow of the best images from your photo session. Want to see an example? Here’s a slideshow from a recent newborn photo session.

The slideshow of your photos (on a USB drive) is available for purchase a la carte or as a free gift with a minimum package purchase. Be sure to ask at your Reveal meeting if you’re interested in taking your slideshow home!

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First, you can pick your package for the in-studio Christmas mini sessions with Santa on November 9! These spots are going fast, so grab one quick if you want photos of the kids alone and with Santa with a bunch of adorable backgrounds and props.

Can’t make it to the new Dr. Z Photography studio on November 9 for Santa photos? Here’s exciting news #2: 30-minute Christmas mini sessions will be held throughout November and early December at one of two local Christmas tree farms! Choose from either of the packages above for these sessions. If you want one of these, let me know soon–we need to book ahead for the farms and spots are filling up. These sessions will be offered on weekends or weekdays until Thanksgiving; after Thanksgiving, they’ll be available on weekdays only.

And number 3: check out the new foil-pressed cards that are available for the 2014 holiday season! These gorgeous cards are available in a variety of papers, foil colors, and designs. I have samples I’d love to show you, and if you choose Package A for your Christmas mini session, you can upgrade your FREE set of 25 cards to foil-pressed cards for only $15!

Want to book a Christmas mini session (or a full session)? Contact me through the form below and I’ll get right back to you!